Sheet-transfer mechanism for multicylinder presses



Dec. 6, 1927.

. 1,651,409 T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES Filed J 50) 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORfi ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1927.

T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM 'FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 50, 1925 T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFERUMECHANISM FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSE:

Dec. 6, 1927.

7 Sheets-5heet Filed June 30, 1923 T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES Dec. 6, 1927.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 Filed June 50, 1923 Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,409

T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTICYLIN DER PRESSES Filed June 30, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,40 9

T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES June .0. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet s Q Dec. 6, 1927.

1,651,409 T. L. PERRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MULTICYLINDER PRESSES Filed June 50, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ant c? Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

i AI-UNITED STATES Pa rs-N 0 rice].

THOMAS L. PERRY AND EREns. ENGLISH, or NE Lennon, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNYOBS j To THE, BAB QC PRINTING rREss MANUFACTURI G COMrA Y, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

S E T-TRA SFER M CirAnI'sM' o MULTICYLINDER rnEss s.

Application fil edJ un e 3p, 1923. Serial No. 548,841. r

Our invention relates to mechanism for controlling; the transferof thesheets from one"cy linde r to another in amulti-cylinder pressof the sheet feedtype, whether it be a printing p ress, cutter and creas'er or: other form ofp'ress. The invention has to do more withthe gripper mech anism though the pres ent grippermechanism makes possible certai'n moditications in the structural features ofthepress, i r

' Heretofore itlha's'been customary to oper-' ate the" transfer grippers on multi-cy' linder presses by 'means' of either sli p sliding pinsa'nd it has also been custoinary'to operate'the grippers on single color presses with sliding: means." The movahility of the gripper "operatingmeans resulted in "some looseness or play int-he parts, especially after theyhecame worn and thisproducedinae curacies in the registerfot 'thepress. multi-color presses or, multi-impression presses these errorsare cumulative andonel object of the present invention is to avoid this all pressesa'nd especially in mult1- cylinder presses In the present case the gripper operating; members do not slideinto and outi of position to actuate the grippers and therefore their positions may be fixed and unchanging resulting in accurate register. By this we do not meanthat every member effecting the operation ofthe grin piers necessarily has to he stationaryhut in the present case those members are stationary which-can in am way affect the accuracy of register. Itwill be apparent that in two revolution pressesavhere a sheet-is printed every tworevolutions of the impression cylind ersthe strippers on the cylinders perform their complete functions once for every two revolutions.v andvmovable cams or pins have heretofore heen used to operate thesrrippers on the transfer cylinder'in order that they could he moved out of the way of the tympans for every alternate revolutionf Vi e hareavoided thedefects or im 'oe'rfections of movalile camsand pins hymaking the cams which control the initialopenin g and final .closinpf of the grippers of the transfer cylinder on thesheet stationary and we provide means for holding'the grippers out of o peratii' e relationwith the stationary cams at each alternate revolution of the impression cylinde s.

I In the fullest enhodiment ofour inventions cams or flow from the use of our not only are the transfer grippers held out of operative relation with. the stationary cams but they are turned completely within the peripheral line of the transfer cylinder and this feature is not only a decided advantage I in conjunction With stationary'cams but it is susceptihle'o'f independent use for its indi-- vidual advantages; l-Ie retofore the transfer cylinder of niulti-color or multi-cylinder presses has generally been made smaller than theimpression cylinders and some even subdivision'of the size of the latter, generally one half the diameter of the impression cyl inders, in order that the transfer grippers on the second revolution'of the impression cylinders would come opposite theopenings of the impression cydinders-or escape the'tympan surface to prevent.destruction. This made it necessary to limitthe size of the I ransfer cylinder generally to one half the size of the impression cylinders.- This lim ited size results in less efficiency in the action of-the transfer grippers and the sheet is cnrved'into a small circle, especially as in such constructions'the sheet has totravel I around with'tlie transfer cylinder more than one revolution of the latter; r

In the present case the grippers on the transfer cylinder do nothave to come opposite the impression cylinder openings at each alternate revolution of the impression cylinders and therefore the gripper devices place nolimitations on the size of the transfer cylinder. As a matter of preference we have made'the transfer cylinder with a diameter equal to two-thirds the diameter of the impression cylinders, so that the transfer cylindermalres three complete revolutions while the impression cylinders are -making I two revolutions. The j sheet is therefore 'not' around on one revolution of the transfercylinder between the time the leading edge leaves one impression cylinder and is taken by the next one, owingto the increased size of the transfer cylinder. These advantages 7 gripper mechanism as will appear. 7

Another broad feature of our lnvention is the use of cams on the impression cylinders for placing certain of the cams which operate the grippers on the transfer cylinder, into and out of operative position. Other advantages will he apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of our invention.

In the drawings forming! application.

Figure l. is a di:ui rammatic side elevation of a two revolution multi-cvliiuler printing press in conjunction with which we have applied our invention.

Figures 2. l and ii are enlarged end elevations of the cylinders showing the gripper devices in the different positions they assume in a complete cycle of opentions. in some of which views some of the parts are ou'iitted for simplicity f illustration. and to avoid unnecessary duplication.

Figure 6 is similar view which also shows certain si' rine's and cams for operat int! some of the parts. and

Figure 7 is a plan view.

n the drawincs we have shown our invention applied to atwo revolutimi press in which a sheet. is printed at every second revolution and wherein the sheet receives two impressions on the same side while passing? through the press. thoua'h .it will he apparent that the imention is not limited to this particular application. Herein we have shown one. of the side frames 60 of the. press. on which is mounted the eed hoard 61 and a delivery 62. Between these is arranged the rear or first impression cylinder 9 which first receives the sheet from the feed hoard and helow this is the ear or first plate evlinde tifl which carries the first plate or form to operate on the sheet and it cooperates with the first impression cylinder 9 in making the first impression on the sheet. After the first impression has hcen p art: of this made the sheet is taken from the impression cylinder 9 hr the transfer c linder 10 which then transfers the sheet to the second impression cylinder ll While. trarelinn' around with the latter the sheet receives a second imrwession from the form or plate on the. se ond plate cylinder 64 and then the sheet. is taken from the latter cylinder hy the delivery n'icchanism. Our present invention requ r s no chance in the gripper mechanisms of the impression cvlinders and therefore in so far as we have shown parts thereof they conform to present practice. i As stated ahove. we have made the diameter of the transfer cylinder 10 equal to two thirds the diameter of the impression cylinders 9. ll. and as all these cylinders are connected by a chain of gears in well known manner the transfer cylinder will make three complete revolutions while the impression cylinders are making two complete revolutions. The impression operations take place on each alternate revolution of the respertive impression cylinders where the press is of the two revolution type as shown herein.

In Figure 53 we hzwe shown the principal parts of our mechanism. In this view. 9 is the rear or first impression cylinder, referred to ahove, '10 is the transfer cylinder and ll is the second impression cylinder looking at the same side of the press as in Figure. 1. The sheet: 26 has made arevolution with the impression cylinder 9 and has received the. first impression from th form or plate on cylinder (33 and the sheet in this view is in the process of heingtransferred from the impression cylinder 9 to the trans fer cylinder 10. At th instant shown by this view the leading edge of the sheet 26 held against the tympan of the cylinder 9 by the gripper fine'ers 27 which are of usual construction. These are the grippers carried by the impression cylinder 9 and are here shown as having the usual crank arm 29 provided with a roller 30 which is actuated by the cam 31. which is moved laterally on the pins 32. 33 periodically into and out of the path of the roller 30 at alternate revolutions of the cylinder 9. At the instant illustrated in Fiaure 2 the gripper fingers 27 are about to he released from the edge of the sheet 26 to permit the sheet to transfer to the cylinder 10. The grippers 28 are mounted on the transfer cylinder 10 and in this view they have iust closed on the edge of the sheet at the loiirht. of the cylinders 9.10. to grip the sheet against the transfer cylinder at or about the time the grippers 27 are re leased. so that the sheet will pass from the cylinder 9 to the cylinder 10.

The transfer grippers 28 areattaehed to the shaft 34 and they are operated primae rily through the crank 35 attached to the shaft 34, which crank carries the roller 36. these last mentioned parts beingarranged on the end of shaft 34: from which Figure 2 reads. On the opposite end of the shaft 34 there is a second crank 37 which carries a roller 38 and the cranks 35 and 37 are disposed approximately the angle shown in the drawings.

On the shaft 34 (as may he seen by refer ence to Figure 6) there is fixed a third crank which has approximately the angular displacementrelatively to cranks 3F and 37 as shown. There is a rod 39 having one end seated in a recess (36 in the transfer cylinder and the other end ispivotcd to the free end of the crank 65. There is a coiled spring 67 surrounding this rod and compressed llOtWt-OTI the cylinder wall and the collar 68 adjustahly fixed to the rod 39. The tendency of this spring 67 is to force the rod 39 to the right in Figure 6. This pressure will tend to turn the gripper shaft 34 and as the rod 39 is adapted to move to either side of the axis of the shaft 34 the pressure of the clockwise or counterclockwise accordingto' which side of the axial line of shaft 34 the rod is directed. In the position shown in Figure 6- the spring 67 tends to hold thegrippers 28 closed on the sheet as in Figure 2. It will be apparent that if the shaft 34 is turnedin opposition to the spring 67 until the rod 39 passesto the other side of the axis ofshaft 34 the spring will then have a tendency to turn the shaft 34 intheopposite direction and bring the rod 39 to thedotted any function in the construction showns line position and this would retract the gripper fingers well within the peripheral line of the transfer cylinder.

Reverting to-Figure2 it will be seen thatv we have provided a stationary bracket 49fon the side of the press on which is rigidly attached the two. stationary cams 41 and only the outer surface of which perform These are the only cams associated with the transfer cylinder which have any eflecton the accuracy of'the' register and as they can be rigidly mounted they will-always operate the grippers 28 at the same points. In Figure 2 the roller 36 is'justv leaving the'surface a cylinder 11 and-sliding'on the pins 44 and of the cam 41 so that the shaft 34 is being rotated by the pressure of spring 67 which tends to move this shaftcounterclockwise and thus press the grippers '28 against the sheet 26. i V

In this same view we have shown the cam 44 associated with the second impression this cam, which is of usual construction, corresponds with the earn 31 but operates the grippers'42 on cylinder 11.

When the parts have advanced sothat the transfer cylinder has made slightly more than one half revolution the condition of the parts will then be asshownin Figure The transfer grippers have moved past the bight of the cylinders lO'and 11 and just as they are moving away from the bight, the

roller 36 will have engaged the stationary cam 45' and as the cylinder IOcontinues to relvolve, the cam 45 operates on the roller 36andcrank 35 to rotate the shaft 34 clockwise in this'view andthis will release the grippers 28 from the sheet. While the 7 leading edge of the sheet was at the bight of the cylinders 10, 11 and just as the grippers 28 were about to release the sheet the grip-' pers 42 on the cylinder 11 were closed by means controlled by the cam 44 in the usual manner and the sheet has therefore commenced to transfer from cylinder 10 to cylinder 11 when the parts arrive at the positions shown in Figure3. In Figure'3' control this action'we have provided a: cam spring, 67 will tend to turn the shaft 34 46 which is secured upon an arm '47 which swings from the center 48. In Figure 3 this arm isshownheld down so thattheca-In 46 is in the path of the roller 38. The cam 45 therefore acts on the roller 36 to turn the shaft 34 and open the grippers 28, and about this time the rod 39 has passed the center of shaft 34, whereupon the roller 38 on the crank arm37 is ressed against the cam 46 and thelatterwill prevent sudden turning of the shaft'34 by the spring 67. As the cylinder 10 continues its motion the roller 36 willpass be vond the cam 45 and the roller 38 will ride o the cam'46, so that the shaft 34 will be'gradually turned, firstby the cam 45, then by the spring 39, controlled by the.

cam 46, and when the roller 38 passes off the cylinder has made abouta quarter turn from that of Figure 3, Therollers 36-and cam 46 the grippersQS will havebeen moved I 38 have left the cams 45, 46 and the grippers j are held fully retracted by. the spring 67. The arm 47 has now been swung so that the cam 46 is out of the path of the roller 38.

The cam 53 corresponds with the cam 46 being oppositely disposed, and it is mounted on an arm 54 that swings from the center 55. 'In Figure 4 this arm 54 is swung-pout so that the cam'53' is also out of the. pathiof the roller 38. that neither; of the stationarycams ll, 45 will act upon this roller. While the gripper mechanism. is inthispo'sit-ion the cylinder 10 will make two complete revolutions, the grippers 28 being held retracted all this time and being free to pass the impression cylinders at'any point.

' hen the cylinder 10 has made tworevolutions from the position of Figure 4 the parts willthen appear as shown ,in Figure i5. Here-the arm 54 has been swung down so that the cam 53 is now in the path of the roller 38 -As the roller :38 moves along this cam '53 theshaft 34 is turnedcounter clockwise to start the closing of the grippers. Before, or at the time the rod 39 crosses the axis of the shaft 34 the roller 36 is in position to engagethe fixed cam 41 and as the. cylinder 10: turns further, the rod 39 will The roller 36 is now so held pass the axis of the shaft 34'and thespring 67 will continue the closing action of the grippers 28, restrained from sudden action by the'cam 41 acting on roller 36, and when the grippers arrive at thebight of the cylinders 9, 10, they will have been fully closed on the sheet. A complete cycle of ope-ration' has been traced and the same functions will be repeated at each succeeding cycle.

There is a spring. 52 having one end eonthe position shown in Figure moved back and forth to plate ti "on ate ion and out of opera tire relation to t M Zit There a similar npringi 5i arra draw over the arm t- -lto more the ii to the right in Figure U or out ot the path of the roller Z1115. The Cilttltt on the cylinder 9 acts on the rolle' an on the end of th arm to more it to the left in Figure t3. it each revolution of the cylinder n the rain it) is moved into and out of the path oi? the roller 38 to bring about the rennin: itrwrihi-d above. V

During the other revolution ot the e tiin der the rain 57 torcee the rain or, into position just. the some, hill at that linrcthe roller 38 is nearly diagonally t illlUvfilto train the position shown in .ltigurr 5i, 'lhere't'orr, that an idle stroke of the rain.

It will he noted that the ttittltw t1, to no the only ones which have an en'rrt on the accuracy of the regiater so l'ar an .m ea. fer cylinder is concerned and there may impression. As the sheet passes the tranafor cylinder the grippers on the latter are turned back within the cylinder and do not: touchthe sheet. After the [ii iinprl eion is complete the cylinder 9 conu around to litre the FllLOi is trans erredfrom the ryliriler i to the transi'er cylinder to by lilOZtllhi operated through stationary came. The siheet travel; a partial revolution with the lt'ill'lr; .l

der, about a halt revolution, and then transfer grippers are opened he mean: ot' the stationary cani ll-5 and the nhertw hy the second impreraion cyliu r it the transfer cylinder proceed: heroin point whereit traiuii'ers the ehert to r i l1 its gripl'lerrs are opened way into the cylinder and away from the path o E tltimpre, ion cylinders; and with the f iij nll'ft in this condition the transfer rylinder makes two complete revolutions and the operations are repeated.

We do not winh to he nniilmfstood as limit in our invention to any net of proportions. it it: not neceaeary hntuouly pret'eralile that the diameter of the trane'ter cylinder be two thirds the tilia neter ()Il tllQ llIl1HG"l()ll r tinder and ot (THH'FO it this proportiini it; not need then the other Factors are inodilied accordingly.

lilarii'lg deecrihed our t'ltlllli if: i

1. In a press the etnnhination of impresnion eyliwlera and a trans-atmcylinder, nrippere tor the sheets; on said cylinders and means: 'lor opemtiin, the grippers ot the tran-ler cylinder, coinprir-aing a nlationary nicniher 't'or controlling the closing of the tranetor cylinder grippers, and. means for :intonnitieally placiin;- a member of said grippers into and out oi the path of said -rtationary ineinher whereby the latter will eontrol the closing; of the grippers of said tin ,ter cylinder.

:3. In a press the conil'nation of, imprestion cylinders; and a traneter cylinder, grippcra for the sheets on said cylinders and means for operating the grippereot the Monster cylinder, comprising a stationary n'un'nlier :lor oi iening, the transi'er cylinder rrippera, and means for auton'iatieally placing; a portion o'lf said grippers in position to he artedn jion by said. stationary member wherehy the latter will, upon revolution ol the transfer cylinder, open the grippers thereof.

H. In a press the combination of 'l,1111)1'65$ nion cylinders and a transfer cylinder, gt ippere on said cylinders for the sheets, and means for operating the grippers ofathe traindfer cylinder comprising stationary n'ieinhors-i one o'l. whichis adaptml to control the cloeing oi raid grippers and the other invention, What We adapted to open aaid gri 'ipers, and means for antoinatieally placing Fillt'l grippers into and out of position. to be actuated by said tationan nieinhnrs upon. the revolution of aaid transfer cylinder. i i -Il-. In a pro the combination ol impresaion cylinder and a transfer cylinder, gripped; on the eylindm-s for the sheets, and means t r olmratinp, the grippers of the traini'lim' cylinder comprising a stationary inen'ihcr fo controlling the clorsing of the trane'ter cylinder grippers; and means for antoinatieally placingsaid grippers periodically into and out of condition to be op- (rated by said atationary ineinl'ier. t

5. in a prose the combination OlilifiPICS- aion cylinders and a trannter cylinder,

tni ppera on said cylin d ers to]: the sheets, and

ineain; to! open-ai ing the transfer cylinder grippers, eoniprieinnys-etiitionary means for grippers on said cylinders forthe sheet,

means for actuating the transfer cylinder grippers and means for automatically placing'said grippers into position to be actu ated by their actuating means and adapted to'inove'said grippers out of condition for actuation, by noving them entirely Within the peripheral line of said transfer cylinder.

8; Infa pressthe combination of mpression cylinders and a transfer cylinder havinggrippers for the sheets, and means for actuating the grippers on the transfer cylinder, comprising stationary-camsfor opening and controlling tne closing of said grippers, movable cams for placing said grippers periodically into and out of condi tion to be operated by said stationary cams,

and means for operating said movable cams.

9. In a press the combination of impression cylinders and a transfer cylinder, hav ing grippers for the sheets, means for actuating the 'grippers on thetransfer cylinder, movable means for-placing said grippers automatically into and out of condition to be operated by said actuating means, and means movable with the mpress on cylinders for operating said means for-'placingsaid grippers into and outof operative condition.

10. In a press the combination of impression cyiindersand a transfer cylinder, having grippers for the sheets, stationary cams for controll ng the grippers of the transfer cylinder, movable cam-for placing said grippers into position to be acted on by a stationary cam, and a cam movable with an impression cylinder for placing said movable cam into position.

11. In a press the combination of 'impress on cylinders and a transfer cylinder having grippers for the sheet, a shaft on WhiChltllG transfer grippers are mounted, having a plurality of arms disposed at an angle to each other, a stationary cam acting on one of said arms to control the closing of the grippers of said transfer cylinder, and a movable cam acting on another of said arms to place said first arminto; operative relation to said stationary cam.

12. In a press the COIHbIIlLlJIOH of im ares? sioncyhnders and a transfer-cylinder avlating said means.

ing grippers for the sheet, a shaft on which the transfer grippers are mounted, having a plurality of arms, a stationary cam acting on'one of said arms to control the closing of the grippers of said transfer cylinder, a movable cam acting on another of said arms to place said first arm into operative relation to said stationary cam, and a cam moving with the impression cylinders for placing said movable cam into operative relation to said second arm.

13. In a press the combination of impress sion cylinders and a transfer cylinder, said transfer cylinder having grippers mounted on a shaft, said shaft having aplurality of. arms, a spring device operating on one of said arms and arranged to operate on either side of a dead center to turn said shaft in opposite directions,a stationary cam acting on another of said. arms to control the closing of the transfer, cylinder grippers, a lllOV'. able cam mounted on a swinging arm, and means for operating said swinging arm to move said movable cain into and out of operative relation to another of said arms upon said shaft. v

1%. In a press the combination of an pression cylinder and a transfer cylinder having grippers for the sheet,-a shaft on which the transfer grippers are mounted,

said shaft having means for co-operating with a cam, a stationary cam for actuating sa d latter means to cause the opening of the grippers, and a movable cam for regu- 15. In a press the combination of an impression cylinder, and a transfer cylinder,

grippers on said cylinders for the sheets, means for operating the grippers of the transfer cylinder, comprising stationary members adapted to control the closing and cause the opening of said grippers, and

means for automatically and periodically placing said grippers into and out of'position to be actuated by said stationary members. 1 v

16. In a press the. combination of impres} sion cylinders and a transfer cylinder, said transfer cylinderoha'ving grippers mounted on a'shaft,'said shaft having a plurality of arms, a spring device acting on one ofsaid arms to operate on either side of a dead center to turn said shaft in opposite direc 'tions, stationary cams acting on another of said arms, movable cams, and means for operating them Wherebyone of said movable cams caused to acton one of said arms to turn said shaft and the other operating on said arm to restrain sudden turning of said 1 shaft under the action of said spring device.

.Signe'd at New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut this 31st day of March, 1923.

. i THOMAS'L. PERRY. FRED. S. ENGLISH. 

